Method and apparatus for filling and closing cartons



Nov. 7, 1961 L.. McGlHoN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CARTONS 6 Sneaks-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2l, 1952 W70/pfff L. MCGIHON Nov. 7, 1961 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2l, i952 ANN ISVION lol lo /47`TORA/EY v U TUD @JN \N Nov. 7, 1961 L.. McG|HoN l 3,007,293

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CARTONS Filed Jan. 2l. 1952 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FITTO/QA/Ey Nov. 7, 1961 L. McGlHoN 3,007,293

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CARTONS Filed Jan. 21. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheer:l 4

VVT'VL n Y WW @um HTTOEJVEY Nov., 7, 1961 McCall-10N METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21. 1952 @Y www ak Nov. 7, 1961 McGlHoN 3,007,293

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CARTONS Filed Jan. 21. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG: I6. 457

@l ,Z8 @J United States Patent 3,007,293 A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CARTONS Leonard McGihon, San Leandro, Calif., assignor to Alexander Donald, Woodside, 'Calif.

Filed Jan; 21, 1952, Ser. No. 267,428 13 Claims. A(Cl. 53--29) The present invention relates to improved apparatus and methods `for placing containers in a carton and for closing the carton.

The invention has for its general object the provision of methods and apparatus for accomplishing the above named result lin a continuous and automatic manner.

The inventionalso has for its object the insertion of the containers through the open sides of Iva carton and thereafter closing the sides of the carton.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus in which the containers are handled at al1 times in an upright position while nlling a carton with the containers and while' closing the carton.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be lapparent from the-following description of ap'referred embodiment thereof., as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE `1 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus at the feed end thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l.

FIGURE-3* is a side 'elevational view of the apparatus showing the compression unit at the discharge 'end of the apparatus, and forms a continuation of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken as indicated by the line `4--4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a carton held between two compression plates of the unit shown in FIG- URE 3. v

FIGURE 6` is a fragmentary enlarged plan View of the carton feeding station.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plan indicated by the line 77in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a carton in'folded condition.

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7 with certain parts omitted to clarify the view.

FIGURE 1()` is a View sinrilarA to FIGURE 9 Showing another operative condition off the parts.

FIGURE 11 isa fragmentary perspective view illustrating' the control 'of the cans and the carton during entry of the cans into the carton.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary detail view taken in a plan indicated by the line '12-1 z FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13y is a schematic view showing the position of the parts during movement of a carton to erected position.

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 showing the carton in its erected position.

lFIGURE -15 is a perspective view of the flap-folding tunnel between the glue applying means and the oom- PfeSSOP @it FIGURE 16 is -a fragmentary view of the compression unit illustrating cam control of the movement of the compression flaps from open to closed position.

FIGURE 17 is a view similar to FIGURE 16 illustrating opening of the compression naps.

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary view illustrating the control of the carton erecting lingers of the filling unit at the discharge end of the unitA FIGUR-E 19 is a perspective view of the carton which has been filled and closed.

"ice

The apparatus as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, in general includes a feeding, erecting and filling unit 20 and closing and compression unit 21. The unit 20 .includes a pair of single file conveyors 22 for cans, -a carton by oar-ton feed mechanism 23 which serves to -feed cartons to a carton erector and progressor 24, and a can group segregating and progressing means 26 which serves to separate the cansinto groups, space `the groups apart, and feed them into two respective open sides of the cartons. Subsequently, the cartons are progressed past a flap extension gluing unit 27 and into a ap bending tunnel 28. The tunnel 28 serves as a part of a carton transfer means for transferring the cartons from the unit 20 to the compression unit 21 (FIGURE 3), and this unit 21 comprises respective upper and lower endless series of compressor means including chains 29 `and 31.

The carton to be employed in the apparatus can be of the type disclosed in the cof-pending application of John V. Fisher, Serial No. 138,830, led January 16, l1950, for Carton, now Patent No. 2,611,527'. This carton 32 (FIG- URES 8 and 19), is symmetrical with respect to one end wall 33 and has respective top and bottom walls 34 with a scored connection thereto. Respective apertured end panels 36 have scored connections to the respective walls 3 4 yand are glued in overlapping relation. Respective side ilaps 37 are provided with scored connections at either side of the top wall 34 and similar side flaps 38 are similarly connected at the side of the bottom wall. The side flaps 37 and 38 are provided with flap extension-S39 at either end having scored connections thereto, which flap extensions are bent around and glued to the end wall 33 and one of the .panels 36 of the Opposite end wall as: shown in FIGURE 19. FIGURE 8 illustrates the carton in its dat folded condition as it is received from the box factory.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, 6 and 7, the apparatus includes a carton progressing mechanism 24 and a carton by carton feed mechanism 23 for feeding cartons thereto. The carton progressing mechanism 24 comprises a chain trained about respective driven and driving sprockets 46 and 47, the sprocket 47 having its shaft 47a driven through a suitable chain and sprocket mechanism 48 from an electric motor 49. The chain 24 is located centrally of the machine as seen in FIGURE 1 and has a series of progressor lingers 51 secured thereto at equally spaced intervals, and, as seen in FIGURE 7, these progressor lingers pass underneath the carton feeding unit 23. The unit 23 comprises a frame casting 52 carried by uprights 53 on the frame 54 and includes an array of eight upright posts 56 arranged to hold a stack of cartons in aligned position within the frame casting 52. The lowermost carton 52 of the stack rests on a pair of opposite retaining discs 57 on upright shafts 58 journaled in the frame casting 52, and each shaft 58 has at its yupper end a helical gear drive with a transverse shaft 59. The drive shafts 59 (FIGURE 6) are connected by a chain and sprocket drive 61 and the left hand shaft 59 is connected by a chain and sprocket drive 62 with the shaft 46a of the sprocket 46. As seen in FIGURE 7, each shaft 58 also carries a second disc 66 spaced below the disc 58, and this spacing is equal to the thickness of the carton 32 as seen in FIGURE 8. The discs 57 and 66 (FIGURE 6) are flattened portions o-f a pair facing oppositely. The discs 57 (FIGURE 7) are in supporting relation with respect to the stack of cartons 32 and will remain in supporting relation until the discs 57 have rotated through approximately degrees when the stack will be allowed to drop on to the discs 66 which are then in supporting relation to the cartons. Subsequent continued rotation will cause the discs 57 to enter the stack above the lowermost carton and the discs '66 thereafter drop this lowermost carton and after a full 3 rotation the parts will be positioned again as seen in FIGURE 7.

The dropped carton 32 falls to rest on a split platform 67 comprising respective opposite plates supported by extensions of four of the posts 56. When on the platform 67 it lies in the path of the next progressor finger 51 which will pass between the respective plates of the platform 67 carrying the carton therewith. Subsequently, the carton is dropped from the platform 67 onto the chain 24 and is disposed between the upright progressor finger 51 `and an erection finger 68. This condition of the parts is illustrated in FIGURE 7. f

As seen in FIGURES 7 and 13, each erection nger 68 is pivoted to the chain 24 at 69 and carries an offset control roller 71 for engagement with a cam track 72. The finger 68 has a clamping portion 73 which is spaced from the chain 24, a distance equal to the height of the carton, and the erection finger is spaced lengthwise from the finger 51 by a distance equal to the length of the carton. When the roller 71 encounters the cam rise 72a in the cam track 72 the erection finger 68 is moved counter clockwise from the position of FIGURE 7 to the position shown in FIGURE 14 where theroller 71 is shown on the high portion of the cam track 72 and the carton is lfirmly clamped in erected and open position between the fingers 51 and 68.

As explained generally above two single files of cans 81 (FIGURES 1, 9 and l0) are provided by the respective conveyors 22 of conventional form. These conveyors leading at respective converging angles to respective tracks 82 at either side of theimachine defined by respective outer rails 83 and 84 (FIGURES 9, 10 and ll), and an inner rail 86. Respective chain conveyors 26 are provided, trained about respective sprockets 87 and 88. The chain conveyors 26 are each provided at equally spaced intervals with pins 90-91 projecting to either side of the conveyor, with the outwardly projecting end 91 providing a propelling means for a group of Y cans and the inwardly projecting end 90 providing a control for intermittently stopping the movement of the cans by the single file conveyors 22. Cooperating with the pins 90-91 of each conveyor is a stop control or cam member 92 pivotally mounted at 93 on the frame of the machine. Each cam member 92 carries a stop lug 94 adapted to intercept the cans 81 in the position thereof shown in FIGURE 9, where it is held by a leaf spring 96.

As seen in FIGURE 9 the inner end 90 of aA pin is approaching the cam end 92a of the member 92 and upon further travel of the conveyor will swing the member inwardly to the position shown in FIGURE l0, when the stop lug 94 is removed from in front of the cans toA permit them to advance under the pressure of the cans behind them. At this time it will be noted that the outer end 91 of the pin (FIGURE l) has moved into propelling engagement with the last can of the foremost group of three of the cans, the entry of the pin 91 between 'this last can of a group and the first can of the succeeding group being permitted by the angularity of the single file conveying means 22 with respect to the track 82. As the conveyor 26 continues to travel the inner end 90 of the pin travels along the inner cam surface of the member 92 until it reaches the terminal edge 92b of the cam which will permit the member 92 to return under the urgency of its spring 96 to the FIGURE 9 position where the stop lug 94 engages the foremost of the unsegregated cans, While permitting the group of three cans to be propelled along the track 82 by the pin end 91. It will be seen therefore that the two single files of cans are segregated into groups of three and spaced along the track 82. This spacing corresponds to the spacing of the cartons 32, and each group of three cans is in aligned relation with respect to the carton while it is being erected.

After erection of the cartonto open condition a group of three cans from each ofthe tracks 22 is moved sidewise in upright position and caused to enter the carton.

4 As seen in FIGURE 11 the guide rails 83, 84 and 86 converge inwardly toward the carton, which, after erec tion, has its lower side flaps 38 sliding along the tracks 82 and has its upper side flaps 37 engaged with respective guides 97 which tilt them slightly upwardly as seen in FIGURE 12. The guide rails are twisted slightly to tilt the cans 81 and place them on the lower flap 38, the tilted positioning of the upper ap 37 by the flap lifter 97 providing clearance for the upper end of the can. This tilting of the cans is maintained just long enough for the lower end of the canV to be placed on the flap 38 and the inner rail 36 terminates so that the cans can be pushed into the side openings of the carton as shown in FIGURE 11. l

During the above described operation, means are brought into play to move the rear pair of flap extensions 39 of the carton out of the way of the cans before their insertion into the erected carton. As seen in FIGURE 8, the pair of flap extensions 39 at the rear edge of the carton are bent forwardly in the direction of travel so that it is possible with the carton erected for these flaps to overlap the side openings of the carton. In order to prevent this occurrence a pair of flap engaging levers 101 (FIGURES 9 and 10) are pivoted at either side of the path of travel of the cartons at 102 and are also pivotally connected at 103 to the lever members 92. By referring to FIGURES 9 land 10 it will be seen that the levers 101 are maintained inactive and are rendered active under fthe control of lthe lever members 92, and the timing is such as to cause the bent ends of these levers 101 to move to the position in FIGURE 9 just ahead of the rearmost flaps 39 so that these flaps will be bentto open position by these levers'101 and hence willbe out of the way when the carton is subsequently erected.

After insertion of .the six cans in the carton the filled carton is carried through the gluing unit 27 having suitable gluing rolls 106 shaped to provide glue for the respective upper and lower end flaps 39 so that these end liaps are conditioned for attachment to the body of the carton. The gluing unit may be of any suitable conventional construction.

Subsequently, the filled cartons are carried ,into the tunnel 28 (FIGURES 1 and 15) which has respective upper and lower pairs of` rails 107 for engaging the respective side flaps 37 and 38. The upperV pair of rails 107 are twisted from a horizontal position at the entrance end downwardly to vertical position so that the side flaps 37 will bend at their fold `lines to their proper position for closing of the carton. The lower rails 107 are twisted from a horizontal position upwardly to a vertical position so that the lowermost side flaps 38 are bent upwardly at their score lines against the side of the carton.

During the above described movement of the cartons, including the travel through the tunnel 28, each carton is advanced by a progressor finger 51 on the chain 24 and is held in erected position by an erecting finger 68.` Before tnansfer of a carton from the erectionv and filling -unit to the compression unit, means is brought into play to move the erector finger to inactive position. Refer-` ring to FIGURE 18, it will be seen that the drive sprocket 47 for the chain 24, upon which the erector fingers 68 are carried, is provided with a pair of opposite projecting fingers 108 which are slightly offset in trailing position with respect to a radial line of the sprocket 47. The fingers 108 engage successively beneath the trailing edge of an erector finger :to cause clockwise pivoting about its pivot 69. Gravity also urges the erector finger'in this direction. During continued movement of anv erector finger, its roller 71 engages the end of a cam track 109 which will complete the turning movement of the erector finger to place it in parallel position with a conveyor chain 24. Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that this track 109 extends completely beneath the lower stretch of the chain 24 and up around the idler Asprocket 46 so that the erector fingers are delivered at the feed end in proper position to receive a carton 32.

After passing through the tunnel, the. lled cartons are transferred to the compression unit 21. As previously endless conveyors or chains 29 and 31 fand ja series lof compressor units thereon for engaging it over Vthe@ top and bottom of each carton. Referring to FIGURE 3, it is seen that the upper conveyor 29 of the compression `is offset 'toward the feed end of the machine with respect to the lower conveyor 31, and fthiis offsetting is utilized in both 'the feed 'of cartons to the compression unit and the discharge of cartons therefrom'. The upper conveyor 29 is trained about respective driving and driven sprockets 111 'and 112 while the lower conveyor 31 has similar driving and: driven sprockets 113 and 1'1'4, Ithese sprockets being suitjab1y mounted on the frame of the unit. A chain 117 is 4trained about suitable vsprockets 'on the supporting shafts of the sprockets y113 and 111 and idler sprocket 118 to drive the conveyors from a suitable 'sprocket 119 mounted on the `shaft 47o. A of idler sprockets 121 'are provided for each conveyor :for shaping 'the adjacent stretches of the conveyors 2'9 and 31 to provide 'a convergent relati'on at the feed end thereof, 'a divergent relation at the discharge end the'neof, and a parallel kfrelation of the middle portion of these stretches.

The compressor trays of each of `the conveyors 29 and 31 vare Each tray 126 (FIGURE 5) is provided with a bottom wall having upstanding side anges 127 and being opena't the ends. Each tray is 'provided with a pair of upstanding lugs 128 for attachment to the conveyor chain 29 or y31, respectively. At each corner, each tray is provided with an "L-shaped clamping or flap closing member 131 having a boss 132 Ito receive its mounting pivot 133 on the tray and having a pin 134 to receive a control spring 136 which extends between a pair of such clamping members, 'I'he face of each member 131 is provided with a suitable resilient 'part 131'a. A-lso each clamping member is .provided an upstanding control 4rollerlfl for control by cam means of its 'movement between open and 'closed ,positioilsy The relation of the pivot pins 133 andthe springs 136 provides forovercenter movement of the springs to maintain the clamping members in either open 'or closed position, as seen in FIGURES 1 6 and l`7. y

As seen in PTGURE 3, 'the upper set 'of trays lzojare each provided with an L-shaped drive lug 138 for engaging the cartons, and the feed end or the conveyor 2'9 oyerues the discharge ena of the feed conveyor V24 of thehun 20, so that `a tray 126 its lug 138 will descend far enough 4toengage a carton Ybefore 'the drive lug 51, dis-r engages from .the carton. QA` resilient transferl stnip 141, hastened 'at 142 to r'the 20 and having its other end free positioned to receivea carton from the conveyor 24, the upper tray 126 es it descends over the carton propel the carton along a transfer strip 141 while the lower tray -1264 of the conveyor 31 moves up from beneath to engage 'the canton. The end of the transfer plat/e141 slips from beneath the carton afterthe 'lower tray 12'6 moves into engagement with it.

Bythetime a carton arrives over the guide sprocket 121 (FIGURE 3), respective upper and lower trays 4126 have engaged over the carton to hold the side ilaps 3 7 and 38 thereof in proper position At this time the clamping members 131 are in their open position. Shortly thereafter these hap-folding and clamping members -131 move into engagement'with respective converging cams 140 (FIGURE 16) which serve to move the clamping members 131 :to their closed position when they hold the ap extensions 3'9, which have the glue applied thereto, against the end walls of the carton. The drive llug 138 is in position to holdv the carton so that it will not be pushed back by the closing of the front clamping members 13 which close before the rear clamping members. cartons travel through the compression unit V'r'or a suilioienttime to allow 'the' glue to set, the lower trays 126 in suitable tracks 150. Toward the discharge 6 end of lthe compression uni-t, a pair of divergent oam members 144-l (FIGURE 17) ar'e positioned in the path of the rolls 137 to move the clamping members `131 to open position, and this operation occrur's before the cartous reach the divergent discharge end portions `of the conveyors 29 and 31.

At the discharge end, the drive lug 138 I(FIGURE 3) of an upper tray 126 serves to advance the carton in a lower tray 126 to place the carton in a projecting position. At this Atime the carton is traveling underneath an 'overhanging ap or member 143 which serves vto prevent tipping or overturning of a carton as it is being discharged. A transfer plate 146 is provided'at the discharge end to receive the projecting vend of the carton, and the carton is pushed across this plate 146 by the lower 'tray and onto a roller type discharge conveyor 147 which serves to carry the cartons away from the machine. FIGURE 19 illustrates the closed carton filled with cans as it is discharged from the machine.

For clarity, the trays 126 of the compression unit are shown schematically in FIGURE 3.

1. In a carton filling and closing machine, means for holding 'a supply of cartons in collapsed condition, means for ejecting cartons one by vone from said holding means,

carton erecting means having a series of carton erecting stations for receiving said cartons from said ejecting means, each of said stations including means for receive ing the carton'in collapsed condition and for opening said carton to an open condition, said series of stations traveling through an endless path, means disposed along a portion of said path for holding at least 'one pair of 'side flaps of said carton open, single file container con veying means extending along said portion of said path, means for dividing the single file containers moved by said conveying means into groups, said last mentioned means including a pivoted member that is adapted to swing on its pivot and control the movement of the containers so as to ycontrol the dividing of said containers into groups each containing more than one container,

means cooperating with said conveying means for lining up a group ofcontainers alongside of an 'open carton while the group and the open carton are in motion, and means for feeding the group of containers sidewise in upright position laterally of said path into the open carton withwhich 'the group is lined up.

2. In a carton liilling and closing machine, means for holding asupply lof cartons in collapsed condition, means for ejecting cartons one by vone from said holding means, carton `erecting means having a series of carton erecting stations for receiving said cartons from ejecting means, each of said Astations including means for receiving the carton in collapsed condition and for opening said cartons, said series of stations traveling through an endless path, means disposed along a portion of said path for holding the side ilaps of said carton open, a pair of single file container conveying means extending along said portion of said path on opposite sides thereof, means for dividing each of 'the single ille containers into groups, said last mentioned means including a 'pivoted member cooperating with each of said single le conveying means, each said pivoted member being adapted to swing on its pivot and control the movement of the containers so as to control the dividing of said containers into groups each containingV more thanv one container, means cooperating with each of said pair of conveying means for' lining up two single le groups of said containers in parallel relation with the respective open sides of an open carton, one group being lined up with one open side and the other group being lined up with the other open side of a given carton while these groups and carton are in motion, and means operative withy respect to each 'of these lined up groups for feeding a group of containers laterally of said group into said carton.

3. In a carton filling andclosmg machine, means for holding a supply of cartons in collapsed condition, means for ejecting cartons one by one from said holding means, carton erecting means having a series of carton erecting stations for receiving saidV cartons from said ejecting means, each of said stations including `means for receiving the carton in collapsed condition and for opening opposite sides of said cartons, said series of stations traveling through an endless path, a pair of single iile container conveying means extending along said portion of said path on opposite sides thereof, means for dividing each of the single file containers into groups, said last mentioned means including a pivoted member cooperating with each of said single file conveying means, each said pivoted member being adapted to swing on its pivot and control the movement of the containers so as to control the dividing of said containers into groups each containing more than one container, means `cooperating with each of said pair of conveying means for lining up two groups of said containers with an open carton, one group being lined up with one open side and the other group being lined up with the other open side of a given carton while these groups and carton are in motion, each group comprising a single le of containers disposed parallel to an adjacent open side of a carton, and means for feeding these lined up groups of containers laterally thereof into cartons lined up therewith.'

4. In a carton iilling and closing machine, means for conveying a series of erected cartons in equally spaced relation along a path, single file container conveying means along the sides of said path for carrying containers in upright position, means for segregating containers into groups on each of said conveying means, said last mentioned means including a pivoted member that is adapted to swing on its pivot and control the movement of the upright containers so as to control the dividing of said containers into groups disposed parallel to said path each containing more than one container, and means for effecting lateral progression of respective groups of containers in upright position, into said cartons as the cartons and the containers are progressed along the path. Y

5. In a carton lling and closing machine, means for conveying a series of erected cartons in equally spaced relation along a path, single tile conveying means at either side of said path for carrying containers in upright position, means for segregating containers inY groups on each of said conveying means, said last` mentioned means including a pivoted member that is adapted to swing on its pivot and control the movement off the containers so as to control the dividing of said containers into groups disposed parallel to said path' each containing more than one container, and means for effecting lateral progression of respective groups of containers sidewise in upright position into said cartons as the cartons and the containers are progressed along the path, said last-named means including means for tilting said containers to clear the bottom edge of the carton as they are introduced into a carton.

6. In a carton iilling and closing machine, means for conveying a series of erected cartons in equally spaced relation along a path, said cartons having upper and lowe'r side aps, single tile conveying means at either sideV of said path for carrying containers in upright position, means for segregating containers in groups on each of said conveying means, said last mentioned means including a pivoted member that is adapted to swing on its pivot and control the movement of thercontainers so as to control the dividing of said containers into single file groups parallel to said path each containing more than one container, means for effecting lateral progression of respective groups of containers in upright position into said cartons as the carton and the containers are progressed along the path, said last-named means including means for tilting said containers as they are introduced into a carton, and flap control means for maintaining at least certain of introduction of said containers. l

, 7. The method of filling cartons comprising'the-steps offeeding collapsed cartons to a conveyor, continuously moving said cartons along a predetermined path, gradally opening up the collapsed cartons while they are continuously moved by said conveyor, moving containers that are to be placed into said cartons along the sides of said path, dividing said containers into single iilegroups parallel to said path each containing several containers so that two of said groups till each of the cartons, moving selected'groups of containers in alignment with selected cartons and gradually andl simultaneously shifting said 'selected groups of containers into the opposite open sides of said selected cartons.

8. The method of filling car'tons'which comprises` the steps of feeding collapsed cartons to a conveyor continuously moving said cartons along a predetermined path, gradually opening up the collapsed cartons while they are continuously moved byfsaid conveyor, moving containers that are to be placed into ,the opened. cartons, segregating the containers into single tile groups parallel to said path, each group `having more than one container, controlling the movement'of said cartons and said groups of containers so that a group of containers is lined up with the open side of each of the cartons, and moving all of the containers in a'group laterally finto the operi carton with which it is in alignment so that allof the containers inthe group are substantially'simultaneously moved into the open carton while thegroup of containers and carton are in continuous motion.

9. In a package handling machine apparatus for nserting groups of packages into successiveempty cartons While said cartons Yand said packages are moving primarily in the same direction, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for advancing such empty cartons continuously in one direction, conveyor means urging groups of such packages in single file uprightabutting relation in the same direction and alongside the line of movement of lsuch cartons and in generally the same direction, and stationary guide means for guiding said groups of packages in said upright abutting relation toward said cartons along a line forming a sharply acute angle with the line of movement of said cartons and converging therewith. v l, t

10, In a package handling; machine 4,apparatus for inserting groups 'of'packages into successive empty cartons while said cartons andsaid packages aremoving primarilyinthe same direction, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for advancng such empty Ucartons continuously in one direction, conveyor means urging groups of such packages in single'iile upright abutting relation in the same direction and alongside the line of movement of such cartons and in generally the same direction, and a stationary guide rail extending angularly across said last-mentioned conveyor means forguiding said groups of packages in said upright abutting relation' off said last-mentioned conveyor means and into said cartons.

l1. A method of loading articles into cartons'havng open sides comprising continuously moving a plurality of cartons having open sides in a fixed path'l of travel, moving continuous streams of articles along the `open sides of the cartons, arranging the continuous'streams of articles into groups, movingthe groups of articles into opposite sides of the cartons, applying adhesive to the open sides ofthe cartons and moving the sides to closed and sealed position whereby the loaded cartons are ready for shipment. I

12. A method of loading articles into cartons having open sides comprising continuously moving continuous streams of articles along the open sides of the cartons, slidably converging a plurality of articles from said continuous streams of articles into opposite sides of the cartons, applying adhesive to the open sides of the cartons, and moving the sides to closed and sealed position. l

Vsaid flaps `open during 13. A method of loading cartons each having at least one open side comprising the steps of continuously moving a plurality of cartons forwardly along a path of travel, moving a continuous stream of articles adjacent the open side of the cartons, moving a plurality of articles from said continuous stream of articles into the open side of the cartons, applying adhesive to the open side of the cartons, and closing the open side of the cartons in sealed position.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 10 Bracy Ian. Webster July Smith Aug. Jones Nov. Jones Apr. Conti Sept. `Neal Jan. Ferguson Apr. Malhiot Apr. Bousquet Nov. Malhiot Ian. Mahl July Kimball Sept. Ross Dec. Holstebroe Dec. Ferguson July 

